Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun colour_of_law

1 sense of colour of law

Sense 1
color of law, colour of law -- (a mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law; "the plaintiff claimed that under color of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights")
       => semblance, gloss, color, colour -- (an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading; "he hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity"; "he tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction"; "the situation soon took on a different color")